Railway-switch



2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

' H. P. TAUSSIG.

RAILWAY SWITUE. N0. 333,901. Patented Jan. 5,1886

Jigl I (No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- H. P. TAUSSIG.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

Patented J 5, 1886 an. wi

lll'lll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' RAILWAY SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filedJanuary 3, 1885.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUnEnr I. Tanssre, of St. Louis, Missouri, have madea new and useful Improvement in Railway-Switches, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

Th e improvement relates to switch es adapted for crossings.

It consists in the means especially described and claimed for operatingthe switch-rails.

The annexed drawings,' making part of this specification, illustrate theimprovement.

Figure 1 is a plan of a switch of the kind under consideration and inwhich the improvement in question is embodied. The switch is closed andthe crossing is open. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the parts immediately connected withthe switch-rails. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the rockshaft usedin operating the switch-rail mechanism. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of theswitchstand, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. The lastfive views are upon an enlarged scale.

The same same parts.

A A and B B represent the lines of rail which constitute the two trackswhich cross each other.

C 0 represent the frogs at the center of the crossing, and O 0 representthefrogs at the ends, respectively, of the crossing.

D represents the fixed curved rail used at one side of the crossing inswitching, and D represents the fixed curved rail used at the oppositeside of the crossing in switching, and D D represent the two fixed railsused at the middle of the crossing in switching.

E E E E represent the two pairs of switchrails which are operatedtogether at one side of the crossing, and F F F F represent the twopairs of switch-rails which are operated together at the opposite sideof the crossing. The four pairs of switch-rails are adapted to be movedsimultaneously, and so as to open or close theswitch, as desired, and inthe ordinary manner.

The means for operating the switch-rails is, as stated, that part of theconstruction to which the improvement has reference.

letters of reference denote the -SWITCH.

Patent No. 333,901 dated January 5,1886.

Serial No. 151,914. (No model.)

G G G2 G represent the four switch-bars, which connect, in the usualmanner and respectively, with the four pairs, E E, E E, F F, and F FZofswitch-rails. The switch-bars at their outer ends connect with arock-shaft, H, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. This shaft, adapted to be rotatedreciprocatingly in suitable bearings at the side of the crossing, butnot shown in the drawings, is provided with the arms h h 71/ If, towhich the switch-bars are respectively jointed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,3, and midway in its length is provided with or is constructed to formthe crank h. The rockshaft may be made in one piece and have the crank72. attached to it; or it may, and as shown, he made in two parts, h71", which are upturned at h to form the crank, and which, by auniversal joint, are connected with the bar J, which in turn leads toand is connected with the upright crankshaft is of the switchstand K.The parts h h are provided with a bolt, h, which passes through a block,h and the switch-stand bar J is forked at j j to receive the block 72.and is jointed thereto by means of the bolt h", which passes verticallythrough the parts j j h". The crank-shaft 7c is journaled at k, isadapted to be rotated by means of the customary lever, I0 and isprovided with the pinion This pinion is intergeared with the gear L uponthe targetshaft Z, which supports the target Z, and is suitablyjournaled in an upright position in the switch-stand. The pinion k isproportioned to the gear L as one to two. This is to enable thecrank-shaft 7c in operating the switchqails to make a half-revolution,and thus bring the crank k of the shaft 70 to a deadcenter in eachposition of the switch-rails, and at the same time turn the target Z buta quarterrevolution around.

I am aware that four pairs of connected switch-rails have been operatedsimultaneously by means of a sliding bar, which at its ends is jointedto double-elbow levers, which in turn are connected, respectively, withthe two pairs of switch-rods respectively at the ends of the crossing,the sliding bar in its op eration being moved endwise. Such aconstruction, even 1f new with me, would not answer my purpose, manyjoints intervening for not only are there between the switchstand andthe switch-rails, and consequently much lost motion, but also there isthis serious objection: The sliding bar is continually lengthening andshortening by reason of heat and cold. This in turn affects the positionof the switch-points. If the sliding bar is too long, one portion of theswitch-points is not exactly placed, and if too short the other portionis misplaced.

It is essential that the switch-points be exactly moved and placed toprevent accident, and this I accomplish by employing a rockshaft in theplace of the sliding bar and cranks in the place of double elbows.

I claim- 1. The combination of the switch-rails, the switch-bars, therock-shaft H, having the arms 71. h h k and crank h, the bar J, thecrankshaft is, and the switch-stand K, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the rails of the crossing lines and the fixedswitch-rails, of the tapering movable switch-rails at the ends of saidfixed rails and adapted to be pressed against the main rails, theswitch-bars carrying said movable tapering rails, the rock-shaft andarms linked to the switch-bars, as described, the crank h and pitman J,and the crank 70, having the pitman pivoted thereto at such point as tobe on the dead-center when the tapering rails are pressed against themain rails, and means for operating the crank k, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination, with the rails of the crossing lines, the fixedswitch-rails at the end of the latter, and the bars and links foroperating the same, of the horizontal rock-shaft having the crank it,the pitman J, pivoted horizontally and vertically to said crank, and theshaft is and horizontal crank is, to which the pitman J is verticallypivoted, substantially as set forth.

HUBERT P. TAUSSIG. Witnesses:

O. D. MooDY, J W. COKE.

